[Home]
It was dark, but not overly late by the time Chris parked the Ram outside of the rambling ranch house. Upon seeing no lights, he briefly thought Vin must have gone to bed. Then, noticing a flicker in the front window, he allowed a slow smile to cross his face. His lover had no doubt fallen asleep in front of the TV again. It was a common occurrence on nights when Chris had to work late. Of course, there were the times when he´d arrived home to a dark house, only to be pounced on from behind a door or around a corner. Shaking his head, he made his way up the steps to the front door, already thinking about how he´d wake the Texan once he was inside.Sure enough, when he entered the den, he found Vin sprawled on his stomach on the large sofa wearing nothing but boxers and a t-shirt. The TV remote was still held loosely in the hand that dangled over the edge of the sofa while John Wayne played to an unaware audience.
Quietly, Chris made his way to the coffee table and sat down, taking a few moments to stare at the vision before him. Long lashes brushed the top of cheeks slightly flushed with sleep. Tousled hair reflected the light from the television, some locks venturing to fall in tawny waves across the peaceful features.
Unable to resist any longer, Chris sank to his knees beside the sofa, gently retrieving the remote and placing it on the coffee table. Despite his care, the sleeping man murmured something unintelligible and turned his head toward the back of the sofa. Chris only smiled and watched until the other man´s breathing signaled he was once again sound asleep.
Rising up on his knees, he carefully brushed the silken hair from his lover´s neck and proceeded to deposit a series of soft kisses on the tender flesh revealed. As he was working his way around to one ear, Vin stirred again.
“Mmmm… thought ya´d left already, Buck,” a sleepy voice sighed. “Told ya Chris could be home any minute.”
Chris grinned against the soft neck. “Passed Buck on the road,” he murmured. “Told me to tell you he´d be back next time I had a late meeting.”
Vin turned over then, his blue eyes twinkling mischievously. “Oh, it´s you,” he drawled, trying unsuccessfully to hide the teasing grin.
“Sorry to disappoint you,” Chris muttered good-naturedly as he brushed light kisses across the square jaw.
Vin wrapped his arms around his lover. “Couldn´t do that if ya tried, Cowboy,” he smiled, turning his head to capture Chris´ lips in a searing kiss.
Larabee slipped his arms under the Texan and drew the lithe body to him, holding him close as the kiss deepened. When the need to breathe finally forced them apart, Vin gazed into the green eyes, brushing his lover´s lips gently with a thumb. “You hungry? Warmed up some chili earlier. Won´t take but a minute to fix ya some.”
“Yeah, I´m hungry,” Chris growled, swooping in to latch onto the other man´s neck.
Vin chuckled. “Let me rephrase that. Did ya eat?”
“Uh uh,” Chris mumbled around the soft skin.
“Then how´s about we feed ya first and then I´ll take care´a that hunger of yours.”
“How about we take care of my hunger and let the chili take care of itself,” Chris suggested.
“Don´t want ya passin´ out on me,” Vin countered, craning his neck to give his lover better access.
“Thinkin´ mighty high of yourself, aren´t ya, pard?” Chris chuckled. Raising his head, he added with a twinkle in his eyes, “Or has Buck been filling your head with these delusions of grandeur?”
“Yer the only one I want fillin´ anything of mine,” Vin smiled, tracing his lover´s slightly swollen lips. “Ain´t another soul on earth for that job, Cowboy.”
“You sure about that?” Chris teased, though the words went straight to his heart.
“Lemme show ya just how sure I am,” Vin murmured, raising his head to capture the blonde´s mouth in a breathtaking kiss.
Chris groaned into the warm mouth of his partner and briefly wondered just when he´d lost control of the situation. Vin might not be the conversational type, but he could convey more with one devastating kiss than could all the words at Webster´s disposal. It was like he put his very soul into it, his tongue caressing and stroking, leaving no area unexplored and his every thought, every feeling came through loud and clear.
When they finally pulled apart, Chris´ eyes had taken on a dazed quality. “Wow,” he breathed without even realizing it.
Vin chuckled, the sound rumbling deep in his chest. “Now who´s got a way with words?”
Chris allowed a moment for his eyes to focus, then, in one smooth motion, stood and brought his lover up with him. Without giving the younger man a chance to react, he hoisted the lean body over one shoulder in a fireman´s carry.
“Hey!” Vin yelped in surprise that he´d allowed himself to be caught in such a predicament.
Chris slid his hand up to one cotton-clad cheek and squeezed the mound of flesh as he made his way toward the bedroom with his prize. “Shut up, Tanner,” he growled. “You owe me for that smartass comment about Buck and I aim to collect.” Having reached the bedroom, he deposited his bundle unceremoniously on the bed. Gripping both of the younger man´s wrists in his hands, he pinned them to the bed above the tousled head and leaned in close, his voice low and seductive. “So, just shut up and take it like a man.”
Vin´s reply was cut off as Chris devoured his lips with a ferocity meant to inflame the passion already kindled in both men. And it did just that. Vin could only moan as his mouth was ravaged by that of his lover. Shifting his hips, he ground his swelling arousal against Chris´, the contact, even through their clothing, sending a wave of electricity through them both.
“Oh, God, Chris,” Vin panted as Larabee´s lips released his to trail a path down his throat.
Chris reached the juncture of neck and shoulder, biting hard enough to send a shudder of sensation through the writhing body beneath him. Vin´s whimper was testament to how much he was enjoying the attention to the sensitive spot and Chris continued, alternately nipping and suckling until a rosy, red welt stood out in contrast to the creamy skin beneath.
“Jesus, Vin,” Chris breathed into one ear, his tongue flicking just inside the sensitive shell. He was still amazed that he could elicit such a response from his young lover. The fact that he could reduce the strong man to a quaking mass of pure desire was, in itself, an incredible turn-on. Not since Sarah had anyone made him feel so alive, so sensual, so … needed. “What´d I ever do to deserve you?” he whispered with something closely resembling awe.
Vin turned his head and took his partner´s face between his hands, wide, blue eyes searching green. “Ya loved me, Chris,” he stated seriously. “Took all the best parts´a me and made ‘em better. Took the weak parts and made ‘em stronger. Reckon that makes ya deservin´ of everything I got.”
Chris felt his eyes filling at the heartfelt declaration. “You really do have a way with words, Tanner,” he managed in a choked whisper. “And I´ll always, always love you.”
Vin´s mouth curled into a smile, his eyes dancing with the love he could see in his partner´s. “I love you too, Chris,” he rasped softly.
“Well then, no sense all this good love going to waste,” Chris murmured, brushing his lips lightly across Vin´s. “What do you say we put it into action?”
The next thing he knew, he was flat on his back, his blue-eyed lover straddling him. “So it´s action ya want, huh?” Vin smiled wickedly as he began to undo the buttons on Chris´ shirt. “May not be much fer words, but I´m real good at action.”
Chris swallowed hard. Lord, how he knew that to be the truth. There were times when he was still amazed at just how active his young lover could be. Times even, when he idly wondered if he was any match for the energetic man he´d fallen so hopelessly in love with. But times like this, when he was about to reap the benefits of Vin´s particular brand of ‘action´, he realized the truth of what he´d known all along – that he was, without a doubt, the luckiest man on the face of the earth.
“And I reckon I do owe ya somethin´,” Vin was practically purring as he slid the shirt open and began kissing the exposed flesh there.
Chris sighed and closed his eyes, reveling in the feel of his lover´s lips on his skin. “Don´t owe me nothin´, Vin,” he whispered, twining his fingers in the soft waves of his partner´s hair. He hadn´t noticed the fingers working on his fly until Vin nudged him gently. Unable to do anything but comply, Chris raised his hips and allowed his pants and boxers to be stripped from him.
“That´s where yer wrong, Cowboy,” Vin disagreed, removing his t-shirt in one quick motion. Chris took the opportunity to sit up and remove his own shirt.
Vin pressed him back onto the bed, aligning his own body with the naked one beneath him. “Seems ta me, I owe ya a little something from this mornin´,” he pointed out, nipping at his lover´s strong jaw.
Before the words had a chance to register in Chris´ mind, Vin´s mouth was on the move, quickly traversing the expanse of naked skin to arrive at its destination.
“Oh, God,” the blonde gasped as his throbbing shaft was engulfed in the moist heat of his lover´s mouth. He tried to move, wanting nothing more than to thrust into the velvet depths, but Vin´s hands on his hips held him steady. With no recourse, he simply allowed himself to experience the sheer, sweet torture that was Vin Tanner´s mouth.
Knowing he had the other man right where he wanted him, Vin took his time, drawing the pleasure out as long as he could. His tongue curled around his lover´s cock, stroking the sensitive area just below the head before plunging down to take the weeping member into his throat briefly. Then, heartened by the sharp gasps escaping the blonde´s mouth, he nibbled his way from the base to the tip of the throbbing shaft, placing a soft kiss on the head before starting his way down again. As he fully engulfed the engorged cock once more, he reached out one hand toward his lover´s face, gratified when Chris took the hand in his and brought it to his lips. Vin couldn´t stifle a groan as two fingers were drawn into the warm mouth and suckled seductively.
Not wanting to lose control, Vin reluctantly pulled his fingers from the eager mouth, reaching down between the legs of his lover and searching for the hidden entrance there. Chris bent his knees, pulling his legs back to give better access and Vin took full advantage, teasing the puckered opening until he could feel Chris thrusting down, trying to draw the digits inside. As soon as he felt the tell-tale quivering in the thighs on either side of his head, Vin moved in for the kill. Opening his throat, he plunged his head down, taking Chris´ cock in its entirety. He swallowed hard and, at the same instant, plunged one saliva-coated finger into the pulsing hole.
Chris arched off the bed as the sensations overwhelmed him. “Vin!” he screamed as he shot his load deep into his partner´s throat. His body took over, thrusting wildly into his lover´s mouth, then down onto the finger wriggling in his ass. Once spent, he collapsed back onto the bed, his breathing ragged.
Vin withdrew the finger gently, and allowed the softened member to slide from his lips before moving up to kiss the satisfied blonde tenderly.
“You call that…” Chris panted, “… a little something?”
Vin chuckled, stroking his lover´s chest in a calming motion. “Reckon I do,” he grinned. “Compared to the big something I´ve got planned.”
“Love a man with a plan,” Chris sighed, his eyes closed as he willed his breathing to return to normal. “Ain´t so sure I´m up for it though, not after that. Hell, I think ya might´ve blown my brains out.”
Vin snickered. “Lucky for me, it ain´t yer brains I´m interested in just now. As for ya bein´ up for it, I reckon I kin do something about that.”
He proceeded to kiss the other man soundly before trailing a path of warm kisses down his throat and onto the solid expanse of chest. He gently nibbled at one nipple while his fingers teased the other until they were both hardened into dusky points. “Wantcha inside me, Chris,” he whispered. “Wantcha ta fuck me long and hard till I can´t see straight.”
The words and the throaty tone in which they were delivered had the desired effect on Chris. He moaned softly, stroking his lover´s hair as the words stroked his senses. “Considering your uncanny ability to see straight even at the worst of times,” he murmured, “that´s a mighty tall order.”
“Got me a mighty tall cowboy ta fill that order,” Vin bantered with a grin, his voice muffled as he trailed kisses down the flat plane of Chris´ stomach. “´Course that ain´t all I´m wantin´ filled right now.”
Chris felt his cock jump at the combination of words and kisses. When Vin´s fingers danced lightly across his already hardening shaft, he made his move, flipping the younger man onto his back and straddling him, an evil glint in his eye.
“So, you wanna get fucked, huh, Tanner?”
Vin felt a wave of heat course through him at the words and the predatory gleam in those green eyes. “Yeah,” he breathed, barely able to get the syllable out.
“Well, pard, you´d best hang on tight, ‘cuz when I´m finished riding that ass of yours, you won´t be able to walk, let alone see straight.” With that, he swooped down to latch onto his lover´s neck with his teeth, adding a matching mark to the one he´d made earlier.
Vin couldn´t conceal the shiver of excitement that ran through his body. Soft declarations of love were nice, but this carnal, primal, lust-driven force that resided in Chris Larabee never failed to turn him into a quivering puddle of need. He could feel his already hard shaft swelling even more as it became trapped between their bodies.
“Chris,” he panted, the word coming out more like a whimper. “I… I need…”
“I know just what you need, pard,” Chris replied, raising his head to grin wickedly at the smaller man. “And I´m gonna give it to you, but in my time.”
Vin groaned. It was his own fault. He´d teased Chris mercilessly earlier and now the blonde was going to return the favour. Payback really is a bitch, he thought to himself. It turned out to be his last coherent thought before Larabee put all his considerable talents to work.
And considerable they were. In the year and a half since they´d first made love, Chris had learned and catalogued every little trick to bring his partner to the edge and keep him there. He paid the same attention to detail in their lovemaking as he did in every other aspect of his life. No other lover, male or female, had been able to so completely shatter the control Vin prided himself on. Only in Larabee´s arms, in Larabee´s bed, could he totally let himself go and it was a gift that he knew he´d never be able to repay. As agonizing as the torment could be at times, it was always worth every glorious minute when he lay completely satiated in the arms of the only true love he´d ever have.
And that torment was only beginning this night. Chris covered every inch of his face with soft kisses before moving down to the sensitive skin at his throat. From there, he ventured first one way as far as his shoulder and then back to pay the same homage to the flesh on the other side. Not to be outdone, his hands joined in the sensuous torture, stroking, kneading, pinching, carefully avoiding the other man´s most intimate regions. Vin´s head tossed restlessly, his lower body aching for attention even as he realized there would be no rushing his partner.
Slowly, Chris moved downward, placing the same feathery kisses on the heaving chest. When he came to the sensitive nubs perched there, he flicked first one, then the other with his tongue, eliciting a low moan from the man beneath him. Wanting more, he circled one nipple with his lips and began to alternately suckle and nibble until the moans became gasps of combined pain and pleasure. Satisfied, he turned his attention to the other nipple, meticulously bringing it to the same state before moving on. When he reached the small indentation that was his lover´s navel, he delved his tongue into it before sucking hard on the surrounding flesh. Vin was moaning again, and Chris couldn´t help a self-satisfied smirk. It was a tremendous rush knowing that he could reduce the normally composed man to such a state. Not wanting to rush one second of the experience, he continued to feast on his partner´s quivering stomach, relishing in the sounds coming from the quiet Texan.
When, at last, he decided to continue his downward journey, he found his way impeded by the boxers Vin still wore.
Without so much as a word of warning, he grasped the waistband and pulled them from the pliant body without effort. Vin gasped as his hard, aching cock was released and Chris only smiled, knowing that it would still be some time before he paid sufficient attention to that particular part of his lover´s anatomy.
When the blond resumed the path of tender kisses, bypassing the throbbing flesh of his partner´s arousal, Vin whimpered and reached his own hand down to grasp his neglected cock.
Chris grabbed the hand firmly in his own, one brow raised as he looked up at Vin´s flushed features. “Do I have to tie these down?” he asked, the words half threat, half promise.
“Not if ya get on with it,” Vin growled. “I´m ‘bout ready ta burst, Chris.”
“I don´t think so,” Chris replied. “I know exactly how much you can take, Tanner, and tonight you´re gonna take every bit of it.”
“Chris, please,” Vin breathed, tossing his head. “I can´t…”
Chris moved up until his face hovered over that of his lover. He stroked one stubbled cheek with his thumb until the blue eyes opened and locked on his. “Yes, you can,” he whispered gently. “All you have to do is let me love you, Vin. Can you do that, Cowboy? Can you just let go and let me love you?”
Vin´s eyes widened and he went completely still.
…let go and let me love you…
They weren´t simply words; in Vin´s mind, they had come to define their very relationship. From the very first days when Vin was still uncertain, still wary of what he could lose, there had been only that one simple request. Chris had never once asked to be loved in return.
… let me love you…
There were no conditions attached. All he asked of Vin was that he open his heart and Chris had taken that willingness, that trust, and cherished it like it was the most elegant of gifts.
And for that, Vin had loved him even more.
Swallowing hard, the younger man moved his head in a nearly imperceptible nod.
Chris smiled and placed a loving but brief kiss on the trembling lips so close to his own. “I love you, Vin,” he whispered.
With that, he took Vin´s hands in his and raised them to the headboard. Without words, he wrapped the Texan´s long fingers around the slats and instructed him to keep them there. Satisfied that his silent order would be followed, he made his way back to continue the sweet torment, brushing a kiss of reassurance against his lover´s lips as he passed.
Vin closed his eyes and let himself relax into his partner´s touch. When he felt Chris´ mouth on the sensitive flesh of his inner thigh, he drew his breath in, grasping the headboard tighter as waves of decadent sensation flowed through him. Only when Chris had covered every inch of the area did he move on to the other side, repeating his ministrations there and notching Tanner´s pleasure up that much higher. The long legs quivered, straining against the building pressure of desire, and Chris massaged them gently, willing the muscles to relax. Once they did, he continued his tortuous path down one leg until he reached the curling toes. Taking them one at a time into his mouth, he suckled each one attentively before moving on to the next. When he´d repeated the procedure on the other leg, giving the other foot equal attention, he moved back up to hover over the hard shaft glistening with pre-cum. He flicked the head with his tongue, capturing the clear fluid and drawing it into his mouth, savouring the taste of his lover. Vin´s groan caught in his throat and Chris glanced up at his enraptured features before reaching to the nightstand for the tube they always kept there.
“Almost there, pard,” he purred, coating his hands with the clear gel.
“Al…almost?” Vin gasped.
“Still some areas I haven´t fully explored yet,” Chris grinned wickedly.
“Oh, Lord,” Vin moaned, pressing his head back into the pillow and closing his eyes.
With a chuckle, Chris stroked his lover´s inner thighs with slickened fingers before pushing them apart, opening the other man more fully to him. Vin did his part, bending his knees and planting his feet on the bed, raising his hips to give even more access.
Chris positioned himself between the spread legs, gently massaging his partner´s balls with one hand while reaching for the lube with his other. “You want this, Vin?” he asked in a throaty whisper. “Tell me.”
“I wantcha, Chris,” Vin managed, his breathing irregular, eyes still closed. “Please.”
“What exactly do you want, Vin,” Chris purred, his voice muffled as he mouthed the lightly furred balls.
Vin groaned and arched his back. “Want…” he panted, “Want ya … inside me.”
Chris took one slickened finger and traced the outline of his lover´s puckered hole. “Here?” he teased.
“God, yessss,” Vin replied, his head thrashing from side to side, hips thrusting of their own volition.
Chris teased for a moment, but didn´t enter the waiting orifice. Instead, he lowered his head and rimmed the tantalizing pucker with his tongue.
“Chris!” Vin croaked as the sensation rocked through him.
Chris grinned and plunged his pointed tongue into the hole, one hand grasping the base of his partner´s cock firmly.
“No!” Vin panted, realizing his lover´s intentions. “Please, Chris… I gotta come.”
“Oh, you´ll come,” Chris promised, replacing his tongue with not one, but two slippery fingers while still maintaining his firm hold on the other man´s shaft. He worked those fingers, scissoring and twisting gently until the muscles relaxed enough to allow for a third. Once satisfied that his partner was ready, he took the younger man´s ankles and placed them on his shoulders, raising the tempting ass even more. He watched the puckered opening pulse as it was exposed to the air and had to swallow hard. Knowing he couldn´t last much longer, he squeezed a generous amount of gel into his hands and covered his own throbbing member.
“God, Vin,” he breathed. “You look so good, all opened up and ready for me.”
“Chris,” Vin pleaded.
The urgency in the word spurred Chris on and he positioned the head of his dick at the opening, leaning forward to grasp Tanner´s hands where they clutched desperately at the headboard. Smoothing down the taut arms and chest, he took a deep breath and pushed himself slowly into the prepared opening.
“Yessss,” Vin hissed, the pain of the initial penetration giving way to a feeling of pure euphoria as his lover´s cock entered him inch by teasing inch.
Once fully embedded in the warm channel, Chris leaned over and captured the Texan´s lips in a soul-searing kiss, giving his partner a chance to adjust to the fullness.
When Vin indicated his readiness with a slight shift of his hips, Chris broke the kiss and braced his arms on the bed, slowly drawing out and then pushing in again, just as slowly.
“Faster, Cowboy,” Vin pleaded. “Harder.”
Chris obliged, quickening the pace and plunging hard and fast into the willing body beneath him. “So good, Vin,” he groaned. “So hot and tight.”
In response, Vin captured the other man´s lips with his own, lowering his arms to wrap around the blonde´s strong back and pulling him even closer.
Chris could feel beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead as he pounded into his lover, Vin´s grunts and gasps signaling his enjoyment of the hard pace they´d set. Knowing that his partner sometimes craved this intense, almost brutal sex, he was still surprised when Vin continued to push for even more. With a sudden awareness, he realized where the current need stemmed from, even if the other man didn´t. Unable to deny the physical urgency, regardless of the reasoning behind it, he raised himself to his knees and grabbed his lover´s hips in a firm grasp.
“This what ya need, Vin?” he grunted, pounding into his lover´s ass and pulling the lean hips toward him. “This hard enough for ya?”
“Oh, God,” Vin groaned, “Don´t stop, Chris.”
Chris didn´t. He continued with the punishing pace until his felt Vin´s body begin to shudder. Knowing that completion was imminent, he grasped his lover´s swollen cock and began to stroke it in rhythm to his thrusts. He was wondering at his ability to keep up the current pace when he heard Vin scream his name, seconds before thick streams of cum erupted from him to coat his own chest and Chris´ hand. The sight and sound sent Chris quickly over the edge and he thrust into his partner one last time, holding himself immobile in the dark, warm depths until he was empty.
Gently, he pulled out and lowered Vin´s legs, then, stretching out beside the still-panting man, he gathered him into his arms, placing a loving kiss on the top of the tousled curls.
“You don´t have to do it, you know,” he murmured softly. “If you´re having second thoughts...”
Vin raised a trembling hand to cover his lover´s mouth and stem any further words. “Ain´t that,” he whispered. He raised himself to look into the other man´s concerned eyes. “Ain´t no way´a tellin´ how long ‘fore we can be t´gether again. Just needed somethin´ ta hold on to, somethin´ ta remember, y´know?”
Chris did know. He understood perfectly. How often, even without the threat of a dangerous upcoming operation, had he wanted to hold the man in his arms close and never let him go? How often had he longed to just make love to him forever, never having to worry when and if they´d ever be together again?
“Yeah, I know,” he replied softly. “And did you get that?” he asked, a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth. “Something to remember, I mean.”
Vin chuckled, snuggling closer to his lover and resting his head on the strong chest. “Trust me, Cowboy,” he yawned. “Ain´t gonna be able to move anytime soon without rememberin´ tonight.”
Chris stroked the Texan´s hair gently. “Too much?” he asked, worried that maybe he´d been too rough, despite the fact that his lover had wanted it that way at the time.
“Never,” Vin assured him, drawing lazy circles on the blonde´s chest with one hand. “Ya always give me just what I need, Chris.”
It was Chris´ turn to chuckle. “Believe me, pard, it was my pleasure.”
“See if yer still sayin´ that t´morrow when them old muscles of yours are complainin´,” Vin teased.
“Won´t matter,” Chris assured him. “It´ll give me something to remember too.” He kissed the top of Vin´s head again, nudging him slightly. “Best get cleaned up here, pard. You´ll freeze to death if you fall asleep like that.”
Vin sighed. While he was more than comfortable at the moment, he couldn´t argue the fact that he´d be warmer under the covers. With a slight groan, he levered himself to a sitting position and frowned down at his lover. “You ain´t eaten yet,” he pointed out.
“Ain´t hungry,” Chris replied. “Just want a shower and bed.”
“Need help with that?” Vin asked, draping his upper body over Chris´.
“Which one?” Chris teased, wrapping his arms around Tanner.
“Reckon I could help with either or both,” the Texan murmured, brushing his lips lightly over his lover´s chin.
Chris laughed, shaking his head. “I can´t believe you. Don´t you ever get enough?”
Vin raised his head and smiled ruefully down at the blond. “Truth be told, I ain´t sure I could manage ‘nother round just yet.”
“That makes two of us,” Chris admitted. “How about we grab a quick shower and get some sleep.”
Vin nodded and rolled over Chris to get out of the bed. Standing, he stretched his achy muscles with a small laugh. “Damn, Chris, ya really took it outta me that time.”
Chris came up behind him and snaked his arms around his waist. “Then next time, I guess I´ll just have to put it back into you.”
“Hold that thought,” Vin retorted, turning his head to plant a quick peck on the other man´s cheek. “Right now, I hear a shower callin´ our names.”
Once the water had reached the desired temperature and steam began to fill the room, they stepped into the roomy enclosure and closed the door. Without words, they gently cleansed one another, running soapy hands lovingly over glistening flesh. When their bodies were clean, Chris turned his attention to his second favourite part of their joint showers – washing Vin´s hair. He loved to run his fingers through the shampoo-coated strands, cherishing the soft sigh that always escaped his partner´s lips as he massaged the scalp with loving care. When they were done, they toweled each other dry and headed for the bedroom, each choosing a pair of boxers to sleep in before opening the bed and climbing between the sheets.
Just as they´d settled, their bodies melded together in the familiar, comfortable position they both preferred for sleep, the ring of a cell phone broke the tranquility of the moment.
Groaning, Chris turned and reached toward the night stand. “Larabee,” he answered.
After listening for a moment, he closed his eyes. “Damnit.” Nodding briefly at the response on the other end, he muttered a terse, “Thanks” and pushed the button to end the connection.
Vin had heard the tension in those two words and had seen the changes in his lover´s expression. “What?” he asked simply.
Chris took a moment to gather his thoughts. “That was Travis,” he finally replied. “DPD retrieved a body from a dumpster over on Tenth. Matches Stewart´s description.”
Vin was silent for a moment. Mike Stewart was one of the three young men who´d gone missing. “How?”
Larabee was torn – knowing the agent needed to know everything before taking on the undercover assignment and wanting to spare his lover the gruesome details. “Shot in the back of the head, then his throat was cut,” he finally said, his voice not much more than a whisper.
Vin processed that bit of information with characteristic objectivity. He was the consummate professional. Never would it occur to him to look on it as his own possible fate; he wouldn´t let it become that personal. It was a fact, and facts were the tools of their trade.
“Vin…” Chris broke the silence with the single word.
Tanner´s gaze shifted to meet his. That one syllable spoke volumes and he could read every thought, every fear, as though it had been expressed aloud.
“Still gotta go, Chris,” he said softly. “It´s my job – our job – and there could be two other lives dependin´ on us doing it the best we can, not to mention how many others if we don´t get them guns off the streets.”
Chris knew he didn´t have to express his concerns verbally. He also knew Vin was right. They had a job to do and people counting on them to do it. Giving the only response he could, he pulled Tanner closer and held him tight.
Vin snuggled in close, closing his eyes and committing the comforting feel of being held in his lover´s arms to memory. “Love ya, Chris,” he whispered.
Chris kissed the top of the head tucked beneath his chin. “Love you, too, Vin.”
When sleep finally came, it was restless. While each man might be able to deny giving voice to their fears while awake, they couldn´t prevent the disturbing images that plagued their slumber.